11,12-oxo and/or oxy substituted a-norpregnenes



United States Patent 3,492,359 11,12-0X0 AND/ OR OXY SUBSTITUTED A-NORPREGNENES Patrick A. Diassi, Westfield, N.J., assignor to E. R.

Squibb & Sons, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Filed Jan. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 520,631 Int. Cl. C07e 35/100 US. Cl. 260-617 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE 11,12-0xo -and/ or oXy substituted A-norpregnenes are disclosed as novel compounds useful as progestational and antiandrogenic agents.

This invention relates to and has as its objects the provision of novel physiologically active steroids, methods for preparting the same and new intermediates in said preparation, having the structural formulae:

CH: R l g i and R P is hydrogen, lower alkyl, halo lower alkyl, carboxy lower alkyl (or a salt or ester thereof), monocyclic cycloalkyl, monocyclic aryl, monocyclic aryl lower alkyl, monocyclic heterocyclic or monocyclic heterocyclic lower alkyl, and Q is lower alkyl, halo lower alkyl, carboxy lower alkyl (or a salt or ester thereof), monocyclic cycloalkyl, monocyclic aryl, monocyclic aryl lower alkyl, monocyclic heterocyclic or monocyclic heterocyclic lower alkyl, or together with the carbon atoms to which they are joined P and Q are cycloalkyl or monocyclic heterocyclic. Particularly preferred are those compounds wherein P is lower alkyl and Q is lower alkyl or monocyclic aryl.

The preferred acyloxy radicals are those of hydrocarbon carboxylic acids of less than twelve carbon atoms, as exemplified by the lower alkanoic acids (e.g., acetic, propionic, butyric, and tert-pentanoic acid), the lower alkenoic acids, the monocyclic aryl carboxylic acids (e.g., benzoic and toluic acid), the monocyclic aryl lower alkanoic acids (e.g., phenacetic and ,B-phenylpropionic acid), the cycloalkane carboxylic acids and the cycloalkene carboxylic acids.

Cir

The compounds of this invention are pharmacologically-active steroids, useful as progestational agents. Hence the new compounds of this invention can be used in lieu of known progestational steroids in the treatment of functional uterine bleeding, for example, with concentration and/or dosage based on the activity of the particular compound. They also are active anti-androgenic agents.

The novel products of this invention are prepared by the processes of this invention which entail a number of steps starting with a 9lx-halo-1IB-hydroxy-A-norprogesterone, such as the 9a-bromo derivative. The steps of the process may be represented by the following equations, wherein R, P and Q are as hereinabove defined:

alkanol (e.g., sodium methoxide in methanol) whereby the corresponding 12oz (lower alkoxy) ll-keto-A-nor- HO i progesterone (Compound D) is obtained. The IZa-hydroxy-ll-keto-A-norprogesterone (Compound C) intermediate of the invention may be prepared by treating Compound B with a solution of alkali metal hydroxide (e.g., sodium hydroxide) and dioxane. Compound C is then epimerized with an alkali metal hydroxide (e.g., potassium hydroxide) in alkanol to form lZB-hydroxy- 1 1 -keto -A-norprogesterone.

The 12ot-hydroxy and lZfl-hydroxy-intermediates of the invention may then be reduced with lithium aluminum hydride to yield the corresponding A-nrpregn-3-ene-213, Ila-120:,2Of3-t6tf0l (Compound F) and A-norpregn-3-ene- 25,115,125-fi-tetr0l (Compound I). When Compound D 12a-(lower alkoxy)-Il-keto-A-norprogesterone is reduced in a like manner, the corresponding A-norpregn-3- ene-l2a-alkoxy-2fi,l1a,20,8-triol is obtained.

Compounds F and I are then reacted with a ketone or an aldehyde of at least two carbon atoms, the reaction preferably being carried out by treating a suspension or solution of the steroid in the ketone or aldehyde (or an organic solvent if the ketone or aldehyde is a solid) with an acid catalyst (e.g., perchloric acid, p-toluene sulfonic acid, and hydrochoric acid), neutralizing the acid and recovering the 11u,12acyclic ketal or acetal of Compound F and the lla,l2/3-cyclic ketals or acetals of Compound I formed, Compounds G and J, respectively. Compounds G and J may then be treated with a hexavalent chromium compound to yield Compounds H and K.

Among the suitable ketones and aldehydes that can be used in this step of the processes of this invention may be mentioned the lower alkanals of at least two carbon atoms, such as paraldehyde, propanal, and hexanal; di (lower alkyl)ketones, such as acetone, diethylketone, dibutylketone, methylethylketone, and methylisobutylketone; cycloalkanones, such as cyclobutanone, cyclopentanone, cyclohexanone, suberone, and cyclohexylmethylketone and dicyclopropylketone, halo-lower alkanals, such as chloral hydrate, trifiuoroacetaldehyde hemiacetal, and heptafiuorobutanal ethyl hemiacetal; halo-lower alkanones, such as 1,1,1-trifiuoroacetone; monocyclic carbocyclic aromatic aldehydes, such as benzaldehydc, halobenzaldehydes (e.g., p-chlorobenzaldehyde and p-fluorobenzaldehyde), lower alkoxybenzaldehydes (e.g., o-anisaldehyde), di(lower alkoxy)benzaldehydes (e.g., veratraldehyde), hydroxybenzaldehydes (e.g., salicylaldehyde), dihydroxybenzaldehydes (e.g., resorcyaldehyde), lower alkyl benzaldehydes (e.g., m-tolualdehyde and p-ethylbenzaldehyde), di(lower alkyl)benzaldehydes (e.g., o,p-dimethlybenzaldehyde), nitrobenzaldehydes, acylamidobenzaldehydes (e.g., N-acetylanthranilaldehyde) and cyanobenzaldehydes; monocyclic carbocyclic aromatic lower alkanals, such as phenylacetaldehyde, u-phenylpropionaldehyde, fl-phenylpropionaldehyde, 'y-phenylbutyraldehyde, and aromatically-substituted halo, lower alkoxy, hydroxy, lower alkyl, nitro, acylamido and cyano derivatives thereof; monocyclic heterocyclic aldehydes, such as picolinaldehydes, furfural, thiophene carbonals, and halolower alkoxy, hydroxy, lower alkyl, nitro, and cyano derivatives thereof; monocyclic heterocyclic lower alkanals; l-(monocyclic carbocyclic aromatic) substituted lower alkanals, such as acetophenone, a,ot,atrifluoroacetophenone, propiophenone, butyrophenone, valerophenone, isocaprophenone, halophenyl lower alkyl ketones (e.g., p-chloroacetophenone and p-chloropropiophenone), (lower alkoxy)phenyl lower alkyl ketones (e.g., p-anisyl methyl ketone), di(lower a1koxy)phenyl lower alkyl ketones, hydroxyphenyl lower alkyl ketones, dihydroxyphenl lower alkyl ketones (e.g., resacetophenone), (lower alkyl)phenyl lower alkyl ketones (e.g., methyl p-tolylketone), di(lower alkyl)phenyl lower alkyl ketones (o, p-xylyl methyl ketone), nitrophenyl lower alkyl ketones (e.g., p-nitroacetophenone), acyl-amidophenyl lower alkyl ketones (e.g., acetyl anilines), and cyanophenyl lower alkyl ketones; benzophenone, and mono or his substituted halo, lower alkoxy, hydroxy, lower alkyl, nitro, acylamido and cyano derivatives thereof; monocyclic carbocyclic aromatic lower alkanones, such as l-phenyl-3- butanone and l-phenyl-4-pentanone, and aromatically substituted derivatives thereof; l-(monocyclic heterocyclic)- substituted lower alkanals, such as 2-acetylfuran, Z-benzoylfuran, and Z-acetylthiophene; oxo substituted monocyclic heterocyclics, such as alloxan; monocyclic heterocyclie lower alkanones, and oxo lower alkanoic acids such as glyoxylic, pyruvic, acetoacetic, fl-keto propionic, a-ketobutyric, levulinic, B-keto-caproic and fi-ketocaprylic acid [as Well as salts and esters thereof, such as the lower alkyl esters (e.g., methyl and ethyl)].

If a keto acid is employed as the acetalizing or ketalizing agent, although the free acid may be used as such, thereby directly yielding the free acid derivative, a preferred method for forming these derivatives is by an initial reaction with an ester of the desired ketoacid and subsequent hydrolysis of the ester derivative, as by treatment with a dilute mineral acid, to yield the free acid derivative. The free acid can then, if desired, be neutralized with any desired base (preferably ammonium hydroxide or an alkali metal hydroxide, such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide), to yield the salt derivative, or esterified by reaction with the desired alcohol (preferably a lower alkanol, such as methanol), in the usual manner, to yield an ester derivative, which diliers from the initial ester reactant.

The following examples illustrate the invention (all temperatures being in centigrade):

EXAMPLE I 9u-bromo-l l-keto-A-norprogresterone To a solution of 2.0 g. of 9a-bromo-l lB-hydroxy-A- norprogesterone in ml. of reagent grade acetone 1.75 ml. of an aqueous solution containing 200 mg. of chromic anhydride and 320 mg. of sulfuric acid per milliliter are added dropwise with stirring. The excess oxidizing agent is decomposed by the addition of a few drops of methanol and the mixture is diluted with water and extracted with chloroform. The chloroform extract is washed with water and evaporated under reduced pressure. Crystallization of the residue from acetone gives 1.0 g. of 9et-bromo-11- keto-A-norprogesterone having a melting point about 173- 175, [u] +2l7 (chloroform),

W"- 229 mm 16,800); T3 952 4.13 (s, 3H), 6.61 ((1,

max.

J=14, 12H), 7.89 (s, 21Me), 8.48 (s, 19-Me); 9.34 (s, 18-Me) Analysis.-Calcd. for C H O Br (393.31); C, 61.07; H, 6.41; Br, 20.31. Found: C, 61.28; H, 6.28; Br, 21.33.

EXAMPLE 2 12a-methoxy-1l-keto-A-norprogesterone 213 227 m,. 14,500); 13 3 5;, 4.20 (s, 3-H), 3.59 (s,

12B-H), 6.69 (s, OMe);7.92 (s, 21-Me), 8.83 (s, 21-Me), 9.39 (s, 18-Me) Analysis.-Calcd. for C H O (344.44): C, 73.22; H, 8.19. Found: C, 73.35; H, 8.30.

EXAMPLE 3 l2a-hydroxy-1 l-keto-A-norprogesterone To a solution of 700 mg. of 9a-bromo-11-keto-A-norprogesterone in 35 ml. of dioxane and 7 ml. of water are added 14 ml. of 2 N sodium hydroxide and the mixture stirred under nitrogen at room temperature for 2.5 hours. The solution is then neutralized with 10% acetic acid, diluted with water and extracted with chloroform. The chloroform is washed with water and evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue on crystallization from methanol gives 380 mg. of 12a-hydroxy-ll-keto-A-norprogesterone having a melting point about 253255, [a] +130 (chloroform),

.;*,g-, 227 my. (e 16,900), Tg g gg 4.21 (s, 3H), 5.46 (d,

J=3.5, Bet-OH), 6.06 (d, J=3.5,12 3H), 7.86 (s, 21Me), 8.76 (s, 19-\/Ie), 9.39 (s, 18-Me) Analysis.-Calcd. for C H O4 (330.41): C, 72.70; H, 7.93. Found: C, 72.55; H, 8.04.

EXAMPLE 4 12/3-hydroxy-1 l-keto-A-norprogesterone To a solution of 2.5 g. of potassium hydroxide in a mixture of 43.7 ml. of methanol and 6.3 ml. of water, 500 mg. of 12a-hydroxy-1l-keto-A-norprogesterone are added and the mixture refluxed under nitrogen for three hours. After cooling the solution is neutralized with 10% acetic acid, diluted with water and extracted with chloroform. The chloroform extract is evaporated under reduced pressure and the residue plate chromatographed on alumina (Activity V) from which is obtained 12fi-hydroxy-l l-keto-A-norprogesterone.

To a solution of 100 mg. of 12a-hydroxy-1 l-keto-A-norprogesterone in ml. of dry tetrahydrofuran was added mg. of lithium aluminum hydride in small portions over a five-minute period. The mixture is then refluxed for three hours cooled and the excess reagent decomposed by the careful addition of ethyl acetate. The mixture is then diluted with water and extracted with chloroform. The chloroform extract is evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure and the residue on crystallization gives A- norpregn-3-ene-2,8,1la,l2a,20 3-tetrol.

EXAMPLE 6 A-norpregn-3-ene-2fi,11,9,12,13,20B-tetrol Following the procedure of Example 5 but substantituting IZp-hydroxy-ll-keto-A-norprogesterone for the 12ahydroxy-l l-keto-A-norprogesterone there is obtained A- n0rpregn-3-ene-2/3,l 1;3,12 8,20fi-tetrol.

EXAMPLE 7 A-norpregn-3-ene-2/3,11a,12a,20;8-tetrol 11,12-acetonide A solution of 100 mg. of A-norpregn-3-ene-2 8,l1a,- 12a,20,B-tetrol in 20 ml. of acetone containing 0.02 ml. of perchloric acid is kept at room temperature for sixteen hours. It is then neutralized with dilute sodium bicarbonate, diluted with water and extracted with chloroform. The chloroform extract is evaporated under reduced pressure and the residue on crystallization gives A-norpregn- 3-ene-2;3,1ltx,12a,20fl-tetrol 11,12-acetonide.

EXAMPLE 8 A-norpregn-3 -ene-2;3,1 1fi,12,B,20fi-tetrol 1 1,12-acetonide Following the procedure for Example 7 but substituting A-norpregn-3-ene-2B,11B,12B,20{3-tetrol for A-norpregn-3-ene-2/8,l 1ot,12a,20,6-tetrol there is obtained A-norpregn-3-ene-2 8,l 1;8,12,8,20fi-tetrol 1 1,12-acetonide.

EXAMPLE 9 1 1a,12a-dihydroxy-A-norprogesterone 11,12- acetonide To a solution of 100 mg. of A-norpregn-3-ene-2B,11m, 12a,20 8-tetrol 11,12-acetonide in 10 ml. of reagent grade acetone is added dropwise 0.25 ml. of an aqueous solution containing 200 mg. of chromic anhydride and 320 mg. of sulfuric acid per milliliter. The mixture is stirred for ten minutes then after the addition of a few drops of methanol the mixture is diluted with Water and extracted with chloroform. The chloroform is evaporated under reduced pressure and the residue on crystallization gives 11a,12rx-dl hydroxy-A-norprogesterone 1 1,12-acetonide.

EXAMPLE l0 1 1B,1Zfl-dihydroxy-A-norprogesterone 1 1,12-acetonide Following the procedure of Example 9 but substituting A-norpregn 3-ene-2/8,llli,l2 8,20t9-tetrol 11,12-acetonide there is obtained 1118,12 8 dihydroxy-A-norprogesterone 1 1,12-acetonide.

While there have been described various embodiments of the invention, the compositions and methods described are not intended to be understood as limiting the scope of the invention, as it is realized that changes therein are possible and it is further intended that each element recited in any of the following claims is to be understood as referring to all equivalent elements for accomplishing substantially the same results in substantially the same or equivalent manner, it covering the invention broadly in Whatever form its principle may be utilized.

What is claimed is.

2. A-norpregn-3-ene-2;3,11,8,12B,20 3-tetrol.

(References on following page) References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Weisenborn at 211., J. Am. Chem. Soc., vol. 81, p. 1960 (1959).

Weisenborn.

Oiassi. 5 LEON ZITVER, Primary Examiner GERALD A, SCHWARTZ, Assistant Examiner Becker et a1. 2603973 Weisenborn 260488 CL Weisenbom 260 348 260340.5, 469, 486, 488, 586, 999

" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,492,359 Dated January 27, 1970 lmnntofls) Patrick A. Diassi It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that laid Letters Patent are hereby corrected :0 shown below:

Column 1, line 20, "preparting" should be Ere aring;

formula I:

(IIH CPI- should be:

"formula II:

(I) (3 CH3 f should be: f L

Column 2, formula B:

i co

should be:

Po-ww UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE R v CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No- 3'492'359 Dated January 1970 mvmtm-(a) Patrick A. Diassi PAH];

It is certified that error a ppera in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4, line 28, "phenl" should be Bhenxl;

Column 5, line 28, "8.83 (s,2l-Me)" should be 8.83 (s, 1 gline ,51, "l3oa-OH" should be 12(1-OH;

line 52, "8.76" should be 8.67;

Column 6, line 12, "substantitut" should be substitut-;

Signed and sealed this 15th day of February 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD 11.FLETCHER,JR., ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents Column 3, line 57, "hydrochor'ic" should be hydrochloric; 

